Lyovochkin resigns over draconian anti-democratic laws; others expected to quit soon

Lyovochkin
refused comment on his departure.

But
sources say that he left because of the draconian, anti-democratic laws passed
on Jan. 16 by parliament that criminalize slander and impose other heavy
restrictions on freedom of speech, curtail rights to peaceful assembly and more
tightly regulate the activities of nongovernmental organizations. Yanukovych
reportedly has signed all measures into law.

Several other
resignations of top Yanukovych staff members are said to be coming over the laws, including those of Denys Ivanesko, Yanukovych’s head of public information; Darka Chepak, his press secretary; and Andriy Yermolaev, a political adviser.

The
Presidential Administration’s press service could not be immediately reached
for comment.

Lyovochkin
attempted to resign at least once before, on Nov. 30, after police violently
dispersed a crowd of peaceful EuroMaidan demonstrators on Independence Square.
Lyovochkin is said to have relented and agreed to stay after Yanukovych refused
to accept his resignation.

The
divisions, however, by then were evident and Lyovochkin never regained the high
profile he once had within the administration.

At
the time of his Nov. 30 resignation, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported,
citing its own anonymous sources, that Lyvochkin might be replaced by Interior
Minister Vitaliy Zakharchenko, whose special unit attacked the crowd in the
early hours of the morning.

Lyovochkin’s
wife, Zinaida Ligacheva, a designer, posted on her Facebook page after the
crackdown that “every thinking person cannot help but react when this
happens in the country.” 

She
said she came out to EuroMaidan to support European integration through both
her civic position and her art. “After the violent breakup of Maidan, the
authorities will feel a blockade and non-acceptance on every level,” she
said.

The
conflicts that led to Lyovochkin’s departure are believed to include the news
policy of Inter TV channel, the nation’s most widely watched station, in which
Lyovochkin has a minority ownership share.

Billionaire
Dmytro Firtash owns 70 percent of the Inter holding company that includes the
station. After a brief period of covering the anti-government EuroMaidan protests
relatively objectively, media watchdogs and at least one source at the station
say the news policy has reverted to a pro-government slant again. Firtash has
installed his longtime loyal top aide, Anna Bezlyudnaya, to run Inter
operations and she has appointed a loyal management team, sources say.

Lyovochkin’s
departure will not be missed by some Yanukovych backers.

Mykhailo
Pogrebynskiy, a political consultant working with the government, urged the president
to dismiss his chief of staff because his Inter TV channel conducted an
“information policy that hurts” the president.

EuroMaidan
activists have called on the public to boycott Inter TV for its pro-government

For related
stories, read:

“EuroMaidan
activists call for boycott of Inter TV channel” 

Lyovochkin: ‘Conflicts of interest are everywhere’